The main features of
metabolic syndrome are:
Insulin resistance – a decreased ability for the body to process
glucose effectively
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Cholesterol abnormalities (eg low HDL cholesterol)
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Increased risk for clotting
High blood fats (hypertriglyceridemia)
Dyslipidemia
Overweight or obesity, in particular abdominal obesity, or ‘apple
body shape’
Unhealthy body composition
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Metabolic Syndrome.
The facts.
sugar levels within a safe range. Over time, the pancreas can no longer
produce such high levels of insulin and blood sugar increases to a
consistently high level as a result. Once this happens, insulin resistance
has developed into type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance is therefore a
significant precursor to type 2 diabetes.
Apple body shape – why is
it such bad news for your
health?
With no specific diagnosis, metabolic syndrome can be a difficult
health problem to understand. Metabolic syndrome is not a disease
itself but is rather a cluster of risk factors leading to cardiovascular
disease. It is serious, and unfortunately is dramatically on the
increase – especially among people who lead sedentary lifestyles
and are overweight. The American Diabetes Association recently
highlighted the fact that the increased prevalence of metabolic
syndrome is likely to lead to future increases in diabetes and
cardiovascular disease. Dr Ahmed Kissebah, a Professor of Medicine
at the Medical College of Wisconsin commented on the recent
increases; “In the past 15 years, it has gone from an observation to
a syndrome; now it is a worldwide phenomenon”. Taking steps now
to prioritise dietary and lifestyle changes to prevent this increase is
absolutely key.
What is Insulin Resistance?
Since insulin resistance is such an integral feature of metabolic
syndrome, it is essential to be armed with a little more information
about it. There needs to be a constant level of sugar within the
blood at all times for the body and brain to be able to function, and
if blood sugar levels are constantly too high this can have harmful
effects on long term health. Fortunately, the body has an effective
system in place to maintain blood sugar levels within a very specific
range. Insulin is an important hormone, released from the pancreas,
which helps to control the levels of sugar in the blood. Insulin
resistance plays a key role in metabolic syndrome and refers to the
diminished ability of cells to respond to the action of insulin. This
means that more and more insulin must be produced to keep blood
2) Address Underlying Causes:
An ‘apple-shaped’ body tends to carry fat above the waist, whereas
a ‘pear-shaped’ body carries fat below. As a rough guide, men whose
waist circumference is more than 40 inches, and women more than 35
inches would fall into the ‘apple’ body shape.
• Obesity
Since obesity is such a significant risk factor associated with
metabolic syndrome, taking steps to reduce weight and improve
body composition is an essential first step. Healthy weight loss is best
targeted with a combination of dietary and lifestyle intervention.
Your health care practitioner will recommend a programme including
structured stress management, regular exercise, a low glycaemic,
Mediterranean-style food plan and nutritional intervention specifically
targeting healthy weight loss and improved body composition.
The bad news is that people who have an ‘apple’ body shape, where
fat is literally inside the abdomen and among the internal organs, are
at much higher risks of developing serious chronic health conditions if
they do not make dietary and lifestyle changes to improve their shape.
People with apple-shaped bodies tend to have higher rates of insulin
resistance (the precursor to type 2 diabetes) and abnormal blood fat
levels.
• Unhealthy Body Composition
Body composition is about much more than your weight. Your body
composition is the ratio of fat to muscle and other lean tissues in your
body. Improving your body composition is another significant aspect
of dealing with metabolic syndrome. The good news is that by taking
steps to lose weight in a healthy way as recommended by your health
care practitioner your body composition will also benefit.
The apple body shape is a classic signal of metabolic syndrome too.
• Insulin Resistance & Dyslipidemia
In addition to following a low glycaemic, tailored food plan and taking
positive steps to reduce weight, specific nutrients can help to support
symptoms of insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Key ingredients
include plant sterols, hops and acacia. Complex metabolic powder
foods combining these key ingredients with optimal ratios of protein,
carbohydrate and fat that can be mixed into a drink and used as a
healthy snack or meal replacement are optimally recommended.
Most people are aware that being overweight is associated with
serious health risks but many are completely unaware that ‘body
shape’ has a significant impact too.
What is Metabolic
Syndrome?
Early identification is vital to lessen the impact of metabolic syndrome
and to reduce the associated risks of developing conditions such as
stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease. Your GP
will be able to help you to identify your risk of developing metabolic
syndrome, and even if you only have some of the symptoms, it’s
well worth taking early action to prevent any further developments.
Health experts agree that managing each of the symptoms individually
appears to be the only truly effective method of dealing with metabolic
syndrome.
Dr Ahmed Kissebah, who led groundbreaking research in the early
1980s on the health risks associated with body shapes commented;
“Thirty years ago, we didn’t know why obesity was so dangerous and
we didn’t know that certain forms of obesity were worse than others.
Apple-shaped bodies have the worst impact on health. Pear-shaped
people, who carry most of their weight below the waist, have lower
risks of negative health effects.”
Dealing with Metabolic
Syndrome
1) Early Identification
As with any health problem, the most important first step is
identification, and because it is only recently that the medical
profession have defined this condition, many people are still
completely unaware of its existence. We are now all well aware of the
importance of having regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks,
but what about having regular checks for metabolic syndrome risk
factors?
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Coenzyme Q10 & Vitamin E are essential nutrients for supporting
balanced blood pressure and may be recommended by your healthcare
practitioner as a useful adjunct in a metabolic syndrome support
programme. Supplements containing CoQ10 with natural vitamin E are
the best way to support optimal intake of these nutrients.
3) Ongoing Support & Prevention
Once symptoms have been stabilised and risks are reduced, it is
essential that a maintenance programme is put into place to support
long term optimal health. This includes continued incorporation
of dietary and lifestyle changes. A low glycaemic index, soy-based,
complex metabolic food can also be used as part of a healthy diet and
is particularly useful as a ‘healthy & convenient fast food’, for filling
snack gaps and reducing ‘junk food’ cravings.